Axis Communications, Chelmsford, Mass., may be an all-IP company, but that hasn’t stopped the company from taking the number one global manufacturer position for all surveillance cameras — including IP-based and analog providers — according to the 2012 edition of the annual IMS Research report, “The World Market for CCTV & Video Surveillance Equipment.”

The report is based on reported data for 2011 and contains comprehensive information on all vendors providing analog and digital video surveillance equipment, such as cameras, recording solutions and video encoders.

Since inventing the world’s first IP-based video camera in 1996, Axis has been ranked number one in the category of network cameras — however, in last year’s report citing 2010, Axis was ranked third overall for surveillance camera manufacturers when including providers of both analog and digital cameras. The most recent IMS report indicated that Axis is now the leading provider in the overall surveillance cameras category, even though the company only sells IP-based video products.

“The video surveillance industry — despite the impression often painted on TV and in the movies — is one of the last holdouts to fully embrace the digital age,” said Fredrik Nilsson, general manager, North America, Axis Communications. “But the fact that an all-IP provider is now the number one manufacturer of all surveillance cameras worldwide is a sure fire sign that the analog to digital shift in video surveillance is upon us. The numbers for the North American market are even more promising.”

Ray Mauritsson, president and chief executive officer, Axis Communications said, “The report confirms our own estimates of gained market shares last year, where we presented a growth of 33 percent.”  

According to IMS Research, network camera sales are forecast to account for approximately 60 percent of total worldwide surveillance camera sales by 2016, compared to approximately 40 percent in 2011.

“In line with our own predictions, IMS Research forecasts strong, long term growth for network video products with an average yearly growth of 25 percent in the coming years,” continued Mauritsson.